Method and apparatus for telephony-enabled instant messaging
First Claim
1. A method for controlling communication connections between two parties, comprising:
- establishing an instant messaging communication connection between a first party and a second party;
receiving a request from one of said first party and said second party to initiate a telephone call between the two parties;
forwarding the request to the other one of said first party and said second party;
receiving a positive response to said request from said other one party; and
brokering a telephone call between said first party and said second party based on said request and said response.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus provide a service for permitting parties to engage in instant messaging and to allow parties so engaged to initiate a separate telephone call which may be billed. According to one method a server, referred to as a Phone Web server acts as an interface between a computer user and a telephone user. The interface is coupled to an instant messaging platform enabling the two users to exchange instant messages. One user can prompt the other to suggest the initiation of a telephone call. If the other party accepts the suggestion then the Phone Web server brokers a phone call between the two parties. In a variation of this embodiment both users could be communicating via computers and can launch the telephone initiation process.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for controlling communication connections between two parties, comprising:
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establishing an instant messaging communication connection between a first party and a second party;
receiving a request from one of said first party and said second party to initiate a telephone call between the two parties;
forwarding the request to the other one of said first party and said second party;
receiving a positive response to said request from said other one party; and
brokering a telephone call between said first party and said second party based on said request and said response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for enabling a telephone connection between two parties comprising:
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providing a first communication path between the two parties;
transporting a message from a first party to a second party requesting a telephone connection between the parties;
accepting a command from said second party to initiate a conference call between said first party and said second party;
initiating a telephone call to said first party; and
bridging said telephone call to a telephone connection to said second party.
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Specification